Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 90

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

पंचाक्षरश्च कृष्णाय कामरुद्धस्तथा परः । गोपालायाग्निजायांतो रसवर्णः प्रकीर्तितः ॥ ९० ॥

Transliteration

paṃcākṣaraśca kṛṣṇāya kāmaruddhastathā paraḥ | gopālāyāgnijāyāṃto rasavarṇaḥ prakīrtitaḥ || 90 ||

Translation

‘కృష్ణాయ’ అనేది పంచాక్షర మంత్రం. కామాన్ని నిరోధించునని చెప్పబడే మరో మంత్రం పరమమని స్మరించబడింది. అలాగే ‘గోపాలాయ’తో కూడి ‘అగ్నిజాయాంత’తో ముగియునది ‘రసవర్ణ’మని ప్రకటించబడింది.

Word by Word

• pañca-akṣaraḥ: five-syllabled
• pañca-akṣaraḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु: ‘pañca akṣarāṇi yasya’ (five-syllabled)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• kṛṣṇāya: to Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• kāma-ruddhaḥ: kāma-blocked (technical)
• kāma-ruddhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma + ruddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘kāmena ruddhaḥ’ (checked/blocked by ‘kāma’—technical)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (तथा = likewise)

• paraḥ: another / further
• paraḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• gopālāya: to Gopāla
• gopālāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• agni-jāyā-antaḥ: ending with ‘svāhā’ (agni’s wife)
• agni-jāyā-antaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni + jāyā + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (technical): ‘agni-jāyā’ (Svāhā) + anta = ending with (svāhā)

• rasa-varṇaḥ: the ‘rasa’ letter (technical)
• rasa-varṇaḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rasa + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘rasasya varṇaḥ’ (rasa-letter; technical)

• prakīrtitaḥ: is proclaimed
• prakīrtitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kīrt (कीर्त् धातु) + pra + kta (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is proclaimed’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical mantra/vedanga context, in dialogue tradition with Sanatkumara lineages)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopala

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It classifies specific Krishna-centered mantras by syllable-count and function, emphasizing that correctly formed sacred sound (akṣara/varṇa) is a direct means for inner restraint and higher devotion.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By highlighting mantras addressed to Kṛṣṇa/Gopāla, it frames bhakti as practiced through disciplined remembrance and recitation—devotion expressed as precise, tradition-guided sacred speech.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā/mantra-śāstra: attention to akṣara (syllables), varṇa (phonemes), and prescribed endings of mantra-forms—showing how phonetic structure is treated as technically meaningful in ritual and japa.